Dissolve an Illinois LLC or corporation

File with the Illinois Secretary of State. Ask the Illinois Department of Revenue about tax clearance first.

The catch

The Secretary of State files a corporation's articles of dissolution only after every fee and franchise tax it is owed is paid, so settle that first.

How to close a company in Illinois

Ask the tax agency
We found no official page that says if clearance is required.
Wind up the business
Hold the vote your governing documents and Illinois law require. Pay or set aside what you owe, in the order your lawyer advises.
File with the Illinois Secretary of State
LLC: LLC 35.15, $5 (needs a second look). corporation: BCA 12.20, $5 (needs a second look).
Pick how to file
Online. No fixed time is published.
Check your records
Before you close accounts or delete Slack, work out what you must keep and whether a buyer may want it.

What we found so far, with sources

Illinois dissolution facts, each with a link to its source
Fact	What we found	Source
Filing office	Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, 217-524-6961	Illinois Secretary of State
corporation: dissolve	BCA 12.20: Articles of Dissolution (Business Corporation Act) Fee: $5 (needs a second look). $5 under 805 ILCS 5/15.10(e). Filed in duplicate, showing paid-in capital so the Secretary of State can work out unpaid fees or franchise tax. Full notes How to file: The Secretary of State site did not load for us on 14 Oct 2026, so check it for how to file this form.	ilga.govIllinois Secretary of State
LLC: terminate	LLC 35.15: LLC Statement of Termination Fee: $5 (needs a second look). 805 ILCS 180/50-10(3) sets a $5 fee for a statement of termination. The Secretary of State termination page says the LLC must be in good standing. Full notes How to file: The Secretary of State online termination page said an LLC in good standing can terminate online, signed by a manager or other authorized person, with a card processor fee. The page now blocks automated checks.	ilga.govIllinois Secretary of State
Tax clearance	Not confirmed. Illinois Department of Revenue. No clearance certificate named on the Revenue closing page or in the dissolution statutes.	Illinois Department of Revenueilga.govilga.govilga.gov
Before you file	Corporation: dissolution authorized by the incorporators or directors, unanimous shareholder consent, or a shareholder vote, and the articles say which (805 ILCS 5/12.20) Full notes Corporation: pay all fees and franchise taxes owed to the Secretary of State. It files the articles only once they are paid (805 ILCS 5/1.10) LLC: wound up before the statement of termination is filed (805 ILCS 180/35-15), and in good standing for online termination Contact the Department of Revenue about tax liabilities and check the final return box on each final return	ilga.govIllinois Department of Revenue
Reports and final return	805 ILCS 5/1.10 has the Secretary of State file a corporation document only when all fees, taxes and charges it collects are paid, and the articles of dissolution must carry what it needs to work out unpaid franchise tax (12.20(a)(6)).	ilga.gov
How long it takes	Varies. No fixed time is published.	ilga.gov
Other tax stops	Illinois Department of Revenue: Close tax accounts in MyTax Illinois or by phone at 217-785-3707. Mark each final return Final	Illinois Department of Revenue

Fees and form numbers change, so check the source before you file.

A checklist can keep you from forgetting things. It cannot tell you what your state requires today. Have your lawyer or CPA look at it before you rely on it. Vaultfish helps you run the process. We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice. If you need counsel who knows this area, we can point you to one. Ask for a referral

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to close a Illinois LLC or corporation?

LLC (LLC 35.15): $5 (needs a second look). corporation (BCA 12.20): $5 (needs a second look). Fees change, so check the source link before you pay.

Do I need tax clearance to close a Illinois company?

We did not find an official page that says either way. Ask the Illinois Department of Revenue before you file.

Where do I file in Illinois?

File with the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services. You can file online.

How long does it take to close a company in Illinois?

Illinois publishes no fixed processing time that we could find.

What happens to my Slack, email and CRM when I close?

Closing the company does not decide what happens to your records. Keep what tax and payroll rules ask for. The IRS gives retention periods on its site. Then check what the rest could be worth before you delete it.

Is this legal advice?

No. We read the state pages so you don't have to, then link to them so you can check our work. Have your lawyer or CPA read it too. They like that.